Judicial cooperation: financial penalties, mutual recognition. Framework Decision. Initiative France, Sweden and United Kingdom

The Council held an orientation debate on certain key questions identified by the Presidency concerning the draft Council Framework Decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to financial penalties. The debate focused on definitions, fundamental rights, the principle of double criminality and time limitation, as well as the level of the financial penalty. Following the debate, the Council agreed on the definitions of the proposal (Article 1): "decision", "financial penalty", "issuing State" and "executing State". The Council also confirmed that the Framework Decision would not have the effect of amending the obligation to respect fundamental rights and fundamental legal principles as enshrined in Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union. Concerning the principle of double criminality, the Council, while expressing support for the Presidency's text, was of the view that further clarification was needed before reaching an agreement on this issue. Finally, the Council instructed its relevant bodies to continue work on the draft Framework Decision, with a view to reaching political agreement in a forthcoming session of the Council. �